Mr. Beans coffee shop has returned to the Corridor

New shop opens in Marion

Mr. Beans, 1080 East Post Road, in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. The popular coffee shop has reopened under the original owners. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Sue Kosek (right) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, talks to Beth Andeton also of Cedar Rapids as they enjoy coffee at Mr. Beans, 1080 East Post Road, in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. The popular coffee shop has reopened under the original owners. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Sun case a shadow of the writing on the front door at Mr. Beans, 1080 East Post Road, in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. The popular coffee shop has reopened under the original owners. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Signs identify the various coffee varieties available at Mr. Beans, 1080 East Post Road, in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015. The popular coffee shop has reopened under the original owners. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

After closing in July, the Marion location of the coffee shop and deli at 1080 East Post Road has reopened under its original ownership.

Amy and Curt Bean first opened Mr. Beans in downtown Cedar Rapids in 2003 in the Town Centre building, followed by the Marion location in 2006. The Cedar Rapids location was inundated during the Flood of 2008 and closed. They reopened in the Alliant building in 2009 before selling the two locations in 2013.

Since then, Amy has worked as a registered nurse, while her husband, Curt partnered, with his brother Craig Bean to open Ruby's Pizzeria in downtown Cedar Rapids in June 2014.

The downtown Cedar Rapids Mr. Beans location, which the Beans are no longer affiliated with, was rebranded as Fresh Deli and Grill in October.

When Amy Bean, a Marion native, heard the Marion Mr. Beans location was for sale again earlier this year, she decided the time was right to get back into the coffee shop business.

"I had really missed this place. It was really my startup," she said.

The location closed in July, and the Beans bought it about two months ago. After a little paint and redecoration, they reopened Nov. 4.

"We went back to our original menu," Amy said. "Basically we went back to what we knew, to what we knew was successful in the past."

That means fresh brewed coffee and espresso drinks, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, soup, sandwiches and salads. The eatery's specialty sandwiches include offerings such as the farmhouse club, a grilled panini with chicken salad, lettuce, tomato and bacon and the smoked turkey and Granny Smith apple sandwich with havarti cheese and apple butter. Everything is made on site, Bean said.

"We want to provide a really great product with really good service, that's consistent and in a nice place," she said.

Bean said making the decision to re-enter the restaurant world wasn't easy. She enjoyed her nursing job, but she also sees the curative effects of getting people their morning coffee or offering a place to talk with friends over lunch.

"I loved what I was doing there, and I love what I'm doing here," she said. "Actually, it's not so dissimilar. You're providing a caring service to people, backed by some knowledge and experience."

She also enjoys being her own boss and running the business.

"This allows me to be a little more creative," she said. "There's a lot to be said for working for yourself."

But the best part, she said, has been reconnecting with customers and the community.

"We've had a lot of guests come in I hadn't seen in a few years," she said. "It's been humbling, in a way. I didn't realize the appreciation there was."